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The 2008 Dakar Rally, a rigorous off-road endurance test, begins on January 5th in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will end on January 20th in Dakar, Sengal. That is a distance of 9,273 km (or 5,762 miles) full of sand dunes, rocks, mud, camel grass, etc., and an increase of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) over the 2007 race. Since 2001, Mitsubishi and its Pajero/Montero entries have dominated the automobile class of the event. Mitsubishi Motorsports recently announced its 2008 lineup of four Pajero/Montero entries. Three of the Diamond Star Motors' driver match-ups have previously won the event. The pair of Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret won in 2007. Luc Alphand and Gilles Picard won in 2006, while Hiroshi Masuoka and Pascal Maimon took the title in 2002. The final entry of Joan (Nani) Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra have yet to see the top of the podium on four wheels, but driver Roma previously won the event's motorcycle class in 2004. The Ralliart group has quite a team to say the least, and its chances for an 8th consecutive title are looking rather good. The big question is, which pair will get the win?

[Source: Mitsubishi Motors]